Month: September 2019

The Argentine is under immense pressure after a dismal week that saw Madrid lose twice to Barcelona and exit the Champions League

Real Madrid have already decided that Santiago Solari will not be in charge of the club for the 2019-20 season and are mulling over exactly when to fire the Argentine, Goal understands.

In what has been a chaotic week for Los Blancos, they were beaten by eternal rivals Barcelona twice on their own patch before seeing the defence of their Champions League crown go up in smoke in spectacular fashion on Tuesday.

The losses to Barca, that saw them dumped out of the Copa del Rey semi-final and fall 12 points behind their rivals in the Liga table, and Ajax, a 4-1 trouncing that seemed barely possible before the game kicked off, have effectively ended Solari’s hopes of staying at the club.

Despite heading into Tuesday’s game off the back of the pair of defeats to Ernesto Valverde’s side, there was still genuine confidence that Madrid would see off Ajax, who they were leading 2-1 from the first leg, and their nightmare of a season would at least still have Champions League football to fall back on.

Sergio Ramos’s suspension for receiving a deliberate yellow card in the first leg set the tone, with Madrid missing their talismanic captain for a game they thought they would win comfortably. A chance to save the Spaniard for the tougher tests to come later in the competition.

But how it all went horribly wrong.

The 4-1 loss, the worst they’ve ever suffered at home in European competition, brought particular shame to the club and meant their grip on Europe’s premier club competition, that had seen them win the last three titles in a row, had finally gone.

Madrid president Florentino Perez and general director Jose Angel Sanchez tried to emit an image of calm at the full-time whistle as they watched on from the boxes inside the Bernabeu.

Director of Institutional Relations and club legend Emilio Butragueno went as far as saying “we must stay calm and help each other”, but Goal understands those high up in the Madrid food chain were utterly dismayed at the team and Solari.

That specifically relates to the Argentine’s team selection over the past week and how he decided against making significant changes to the starting XI despite the back-to-back losses to Barca.

It simply wasn’t a night, or week, befitting of one of the greatest and most historic sporting institutions in the world.

The big question now relates to exactly when, not if, Madrid will pull the trigger and get rid of Solari.

The 42-year-old has already admitted that he has no plans to tender his resignation but Madrid’s mind is made up after what has been a tumultuous 2018-19 campaign that, of course, started with Julen Lopetegui in charge.

The names of Jose Mourinho and Mauricio Pochettino have already been bandied around the Madrid hierarchy after Tuesday night’s humiliation and there are even those who would welcome back Zinedine Zidane with open arms, despite his previous decision to walk away from the job.

As Solari and his players took to the training pitch on Wednesday there was an overriding sense of dismay but also uncertainty over the head coach and his fate. What will happen next?

March 6 marks Madrid’s 117th birthday but there was no sign of a cake and balloons. Madrid are in crisis and Solari’s a dead man walking. White handkerchiefs at the ready – these are dark days at the Bernabeu.

The Borussia Dortmund winger has revealed that he is hoping to follow the lead of fellow youngsters at Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain

Jadon Sancho is generating talk of interest from Manchester United, with the Borussia Dortmund winger revealing that he looks to Marcus Rashford for inspiration.

The 18-year-old is also hoping to follow in the footsteps of Kylian Mbappe, with Paris Saint-Germain’s World Cup winner setting the standard for young talent.

Sancho has added his own name to the list of exciting youngsters blazing a trail in world football, with the 18-year-old starring in Germany.

He is, however, aware that he still has much to learn and continues to look to those of a similar age but with considerably more experience for guidance in his promising career.

Sancho told Dortmund’s official YouTube channel: “Luckily enough I’ve got great people around me to keep me grounded and humble.

“I’m grateful that I’ve got them around me telling me I’m not doing enough – there’s the likes of Mbappe doing crazy things at PSG.

“They are the kind of people I need to compete with as he’s so young and so am I.

“That always pushes me when I see Mbappe and Marcus Rashford doing well because I know they are probably looking at me and seeing what I’m doing and it’s probably pushing them.

“It’s good to see other young players doing well.”

Mbappe is already a Ligue 1 champion and World Cup winner at 20 years of age, while Rashford has 160 outings for United and 31 caps for England to his name at 21.

Sancho is hoping to enjoy similar success and his current exploits have made him a wanted man.

A return to the Premier League has been mooted for the England international, who left Manchester City for the Bundesliga in 2017.

Dortmund are, however, reluctant to part with a player they were willing to take a calculated gamble on and have moved to quash the transfer talk was has been building ahead of the summer window.

The club’s technical director, Michael Zorc, told Sport Bild: “Jadon will play for Borussia Dortmund next season and we are definitely planning with him.

“I am far from putting a price tag on Jadon, but I maintain that his transfer would be hard to beat even for the biggest clubs in the world at the moment.”

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After a 3-0 win in the first leg Monterrey will be wanting to wrap up the job as they travel to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face Atlanta United

Atlanta will be wanting to win the Concacaf Champions League at the first time of asking but they face an almost impossible task against Monterrey.

Monterrey won 3-0 in the first leg and look good value to make the semi-finals here as Frank de Boer’s side faces an uphill battle against the Mexican club.

Game	Atlanta United vs Monterrey
Date	Wendesday, March 14
Time	12:00am GMT / 8:00pm ET

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In the United States (US), the game can be streamed via Yahoo Sports USA and Univision Deportes

US TV channel	Online stream
N/A	Yahoo Sports USA/ Univision Deportes

In the UK, the game will not be broadcast live or available for streaming.

UK TV channel	Online stream
N/A	N/A

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Position	Atlanta squad
Goalkeepers	Guzan, Kann, Hildebrandt
Defenders	Pirez, Escobar, Garza, Parkhurst, Escobar, Zizzo, Ambrose, Robinson, Hernandez
Midfielders	Villalba, Barco, Nagbe, Remedi, Gressel, Larentowicz, McCann, Kratz, Carleton, Wheeler-Omiunu, Shannon, Kunga
Forwards	Martinez, Williams, Vazquez, Gallagher

Franco Escobar is the only injury worry Atlanta have headed into this one. The club have struggled to adjust to life without Miguel Almiron after he joined Newcastle in January.

Possible Atlanta starting XI: Guzan, Robinson, Pirez, Parkhurst, Garza; Villalba, Nagbe, Larentowicz, Barco; Martinez, Williams

Position	Monterrey squad
Goalkeepers	Barrovero, Carrizo, Cardenas,
Defenders	Sanchez, Layun, Vangioni, Basanta, Montes, Sanchez, Medina
Midfielders	Pizarro, Ortiz, Gonzalez, Gallardo, Molina, Gonzalez,
Forwards	Hurtado, Funes Mori, Pabon, Urretaviscaya, Zalvidar, Madrigal

Arturo Gonzalez and Jonathan Urretaviscaya are both unavailable for Monterray in this fixture.

Possible Monterrey starting XI: Barrovero; Sanchez, Vangioni, Basanta, Layun; Gonzalez, Gallardo, Pizarro; Pabon, Hurtado, Funes Mori

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Despite their 3-0 loss in the first leg Atlanta are favourites for this one at odds of 5/4, Monterray are available to back at 2/1 whilst the draw is priced up at 5/2

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Atlanta United are looking to follow up their MLS Cup win with a CONCACAF Champions League triumph at the first time of asking but they need a miracle to turn things around against Monterrey.

Atlanta have it all to do after losing 3-0 in the first leg but stranger things have happened.

Monterrey are three-time winners of this competition winning three in a row from 2011 to 2013 whilst this is Atlanta’s first appearance in the competition and they are looking to become the first MLS side to win it since the start of the modern format.

The Mexican side are packed full of talent which was certainly on show when they demolished the current MLS Champions in the first leg.

Atlanta are missing Miguel Almiron more than they would have hoped and are relying on Josef Martinez and ‘Pity’ Martinez to be the difference-makers in this fixture.

The Venezuelan striker scored 31 goals in MLS last season and will have to be at his very best if Atlanta are to progress any further in this competition.

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German football was left shocked as three long-serving stalwarts were axed from the national side, with criticism of the coach’s timing rife

When Germany spectacularly crashed out of World Cup 2018 at the group stages, massive ramifications were anticipated but did not arrive.

Joachim Low retained his post as head coach, which he has enjoyed since 2006, and he largely retained the body of players he had taken with him to Russia.

Two exceptions were of course Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan, who dropped out of the international set-up amid a row over their pre-World Cup meeting with Turkish president Recep Erdogan.

Relegation from the top tier of UEFA’s Nations League, however, has prompted belated changes from Low, who stunned the footballing world as it was announced that he would not consider Bayern Munich trio Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller for selection again.

Although the trio were all mainstays of the national team long before they helped it win the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Hummels and Boateng are only 30, while Muller will only hit that milestone in September 2019.

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As Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admitted, it’s difficult to put a precise explanation on why the trio have been axed from the national side without an official reason or even comment from Low.

“I don’t know the reasons exactly 100 per cent but what I would say is it is difficult to take the opportunity away for a player to qualify for a national team. I didn’t hear about a lot of similar situations,” he said on the eve of Liverpool’s Champions League last-16 second-leg clash with Bayern Munich.

“A centre-half at 30 years is nothing, so age cannot really be a reason. Other reasons, I don’t know. If you are a player and you don’t really retire by yourself there should still be an opportunity to qualify for the national team. That’s my opinion but I am not in the situation.”

Although there is no concrete explanation, it is likely that a combination of factors have driven Low’s decision. For one, it is a dose of shock therapy after a wretched year, sending a message to the younger members of the squad; but additionally it is a response to the media and supporters who have criticised him for relentlessly picking his favourites, regardless of form.

Among the most outspoken critics of the current regime is Dietmar Hamann, a Liverpool midfielder who won 59 caps for his country.

“It bordered on embarrassment,” he said after the World Cup exit. “This is not how German football has been represented over the last four or five decades.

“I got knocked out in the European Championship group stages in 2004, but you’ve got to conduct yourself in a certain way and they didn’t do that.”

Lothar Matthaus, a veteran of 150 Germany matches over a 20-year period that included World Cup success in 1990, has been even more to the point.

“I expect some clear messages from Jogi Low in the future,” he wrote in a Sky column to September. “These can and will be unpleasant truths for some players.

“But just as Niko Kovac moderates things at Bayern Munich, so must Jogi Low. No rewards for past achievements. Stop the unquestioning loyalty.”

Matthaus, meanwhile, has also campaigned for Marc-Andre ter Stegen to replace Manuel Neuer in goal.

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It will only become clear whether Low’s fresh approach has worked during qualifying for Euro 2020.

Germany are thrown in at the deep end in terms of their quest to reach the finals, with a trip to Amsterdam to face a Netherlands side that eliminated them from the Nations League.

Ultimately, though, a group that also includes Belarus, Estonia and Northern Ireland should prove something of a formality.

In the short-term, meanwhile, there has been a suggestion that the snubbing of the three Bayern players could provide their club with fresh impetus.

Poor under Kovac in the first half of the season, Bayern returned in 2019 with fresh hunger, with eight wins from their first 10 competitive matches.

Klopp feels that the trio will feel they have a point to prove to Low.

“I was never in contention for the national team but if something like this happened to you when you are young, fit and healthy then I think I would try to show it was a mistake,” he told the media.

Certainly, it is a move that has split opinion and represents one last throw of the dice for the coach.

“We do not comment on sporting decisions of the national coach, the nomination of the squad of the national team is solely the responsibility of Joachim Low,” Bayern said in a statement.

“However, we believe the timing and circumstances of the announcement of this decision to the players and to the public is questionable. The last international match of the German national team took place on November 19, 2018.

“The fact that the players and the public were informed three months later, just ahead of important matches for FC Bayern next Saturday in the fight for the Bundesliga title against VfL Wolfsburg and a few days before the decisive second leg in the round of 16 of the Champions League next Wednesday against Liverpool, irritates us.

“In addition, we were surprised that this was done yesterday in the context of an unannounced visit by Joachim Low and Oliver Bierhoff [Director National Teams and Academy] at Bayern.

“Muller (100 caps), Hummels (70) and Boateng (76) have played 246 internationals for the German national team, which has had an extremely successful decade, crowned by winning the world title in 2014 as an absolute highlight.

“FC Bayern have great respect for the athletic merits of Thomas, Mats and Jerome for the national team and German football.”

The nature of the axing has provoked such emotions across the German footballing landscape. Franz Beckenbauer, universally regarded as one of the all-time greats, was similarly critical, though notably did not necessarily dispute the decision.

“Those are three extremely distinguished players; perhaps one should have been able to find another way. I probably would have done it differently, in a more human way!” he told Bild.

“A proper farewell came would have been the right framework or something of that kind. But simply telling them they won’t be selected anymore, that’s a bit questionable. This finality is why the players are probably disappointed.”

According to Hamann, meanwhile, it is a call that leaves Low more vulnerable than ever before.

“In a sporting sense, you can talk about the decision, but the style and timing of it doesn’t work,” he told Suddeutsche Zeitung. “These three players deserved a chance to say goodbye.

“I think this will catch up with Low sooner than he thinks,” he warned ominously.

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The striker feels his manager doesn’t deserve the disparagement that’s come after Atletico Madrid’s Champions League elimination

Alvaro Morata defended Diego Simeone from criticism following Atletico Madrid’s Champions League elimination and thanked him for restoring his own confidence. 

Atletico looked to be in with a great chance of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals after beating Juventus 2-0 at home in the first leg of their last-16 tie last month. 

But a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick inspired Juve’s second-leg turnaround, securing a 3-2 aggregate victory to dump Atletico out. 

Simeone was criticised for a pragmatic approach in the second leg, as Atletico offered precious little in attack, but Morata believes flak is harsh on the coach, who has helped restore his own belief after a difficult period at Chelsea. 

When asked if he is now happy at Atletico, Morata – who is away on Spain duty – told reporters: “Yes, especially at Atletico, but it would be more so if the last week had been better. 

“We have been knocked out of the Champions League, but life goes on. Everyone knows what it means [to Simeone]. He is Atletico. A defeat in the Champions League or in the league is not [a reason] to criticise. 

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“I am where I wanted to be for a long time, I thank Simeone and the coaches for their confidence, because thanks to them I am finding my level. 

“It’s clear that I needed confidence [after leaving Chelsea], I came from bad times, but I do not have to consider the past.”

Morata has scored three goals in eight total appearances for Atletico since joining from Chelsea in January. 

Massimiliano Allegri’s side are without Cristiano Ronaldo as they look to maintain their 15-point gap at the top of Serie A

Juventus lost their first league game of the season against Genoa before the international break and while their lead at the top isn’t under threat, the club will be keen to return to winning ways against Empoli.

It looks a straightforward task on paper for Massimiliano Allegri’s men, but they will be without star man Cristiano Ronaldo who suffered injury while on international duty.

Empoli will be boosted by the Ronaldo news, while their recent victory over Frosinone combined with their focus on surviving relegation will undoubtedly motivate Aurelio Andreazzoli’s side to win even further.

They hold just a one-point advantage over Bologna in the relegation zone, so every point is crucial at this stage in the season for Serie A club.

Game	Juventus vs Empoli
Date	Saturday, March 30
Time	5:00pm GMT / 1:00pm ET

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In the United States (US), the game can be watched on ESPN+.

US TV channel	Online stream
ESPN+	ESPN+

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will be shown by Premier Sports and streamed on the Premier Sports Player app.

UK TV channel	Online stream
Premier Sports 1	Premier Sports Player

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Position	Juventus players
Goalkeepers	Szczesny, Pinsoglio, Perin
Defenders	Chiellini, Caceres, Bonucci, Cancelo, Rugani, Spinazzola
Midfielders	Pjanic, Matuidi, Can, Bentancur, Caviglia
Forwards	Ronaldo, Dybala, Mandzukic, Kean, Bernardeschi

Cristiano Ronaldo is absent for Saturday’s clash after the 34-year-old suffered a minor thigh injury while on international duty with Portugal.  Mario Mandzukic and Federico Bernardeschi lead the forward line in his absence. Paulo Dybala was due to start but was injured in the warm-up, with Rodrigo Bentancur taking his place.

In defence, Leonardo Bonucci is rested with Daniele Rugani recalled while Wojciech Szczesny returns in goal ahead of Mattia Perin. Douglas Costa, Juan Cuadrado and Andrea Barzagli are all still sidelined.

Juventus starting XI: Szczesny; Cancelo, Rugani, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Emre Can, Pjanic, Matuidi, Bentancur; Bernardeschi, Mandzukic,.

Position	Empoli players
Goalkeepers	Provedal, Perucchini, Dragowski
Defenders	Di Lorenzo, Veseli, Antonelli, Polvani, Maietta, Pasqual, Silvestre, Rasmussen, Diks, Dell’Orco, Nikolaou
Midfielders	Brighi, Pajac, Traore, Bennacer, Acquah, Capezzi, Krunic, Ucan, Buchel
Forwards	Oberlin, La Gumina, Farias, Caputo, Mchedlidze

Empoli make just one change from the side that beat Frosinone before the international break with Frederic Veseli coming in for the suspended Matias Silvestre.

Empoli starting XI: Dragowski; Veseli, Maietta, Dell’Orco; Di Lorenzo, Traore, Bennacer, Krunic, Pajac; Farias, Caputo.

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Juventus are 1/4 favourites with bet365. Empoli are priced at 11/1 outsiders to secure victory, while a draw can be backed at 5/1.

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Juventus look destined for an eighth Serie A title this season with the club currently holding a 15-point gap over Napoli with 10 games left to play.

However, a recent 2-0 defeat to Genoa will undoubtedly inspire Massimiliano Allegri’s men to return to form to help build some momentum heading into their Champions League quarter-final clash against Ajax.

The 51-year-old manager also stated after the shock defeat he hoped the loss would encourage his players to not get complacent and keep improving on the pitch.

“You can’t play every game to the best of your abilities,” Allegri said after the Genoa defeat. “I think, if anything, this defeat can do us good and wake us up.” 

The Turin side are also without star striker Cristiano Ronaldo for this upcoming a game, and it will give Allegri a chance to assess his side’s goalscoring capabilities without the Portuguese talisman in the side

In Ronaldo’s absence, the attacking duties will be shifted more onto the likes of Paulo Dybala and Mario Mandzukic who will be keen to impress heading into the crunch stage of the Champions League.

Empoli, meanwhile, are gearing up for an intense relegation scrap and three points over the league leaders would be a brilliant result in their quest to secure survival.

They claimed a 2-1 victory over Frosinone in their last game before the international break, and will be carrying some momentum heading into the clash against Juventus. 

Following their tie against Juventus, they then take on Napoli so any points acquired in their next two fixtures will be a positive outcome for the Serie A strugglers.

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The right-back criticised the governing body as well as the officials after the decision to award his side a penalty was overturned

Joao Cancelo has hit out at UEFA for not using a video assistant referee (VAR) during Euro 2020 qualifying after Portugal were denied a penalty in Monday’s draw with Serbia.

With the game tied at 1-1 with 17 minutes remaining, referee Szymon Marciniak awarded a penalty to Portugal for a handball but changed his mind after speaking to his assistant.

Portugal had chances to take the lead before the final whistle, with full-back Raphael Guerreiro, Bernardo Silva and Pepe all seeing shots miss the target deep in stoppage time.

While Cancelo believes his side were on top throughout, he says the referee played a decisive role in the match, saying UEFA should have allowed video technology in the preliminary rounds.

“The referee has affected the outcome of the game,” the 24-year-old told RTP. “With the technology that we have today, I believe it is the referee’s and UEFA’s incompetence not to have VAR in the qualifying stage for the European Championship.

“Of course we all made individual mistakes, but I think we were clearly superior. Serbia just stayed back.”

The result leaves Portugal on two points from as many games in Euro 2020 qualifying, having already drawn with Group B leaders Ukraine on Friday.

Cancelo is not worried about their start, however, as they have plenty of time to recover.

“There is a lot to play for,” the Juventus full-back added. “Ukraine and Serbia are big teams but I think Portugal have the quality to win in both Ukraine and Serbia.”

After the conclusion of their UEFA Nations League campaign in June, Portugal resume Euro 2020 qualifying with a trips to Serbia and Lithuania in September.

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The 18-year-old recently aired some frustrations regarding his first-team opportunities at the Etihad Stadium but he is determined to stay at the club

Phil Foden is determined to fight for a regular place in the Manchester City first team next season despite keen interest from a number of Bundesliga clubs, Goal understands.

Foden, 18, has been part of Pep Guardiola’s senior set-up for more than two seasons and has made eight first-team starts during the current campaign.

He is yet to be named in the starting line-up for a Premier League match, however, and the midfielder recently hinted that he is frustrated with his opportunities at the Etihad Stadium.

“It’s good just to get some minutes, you know, because at my club I don’t really get many,” he told reporters after he started for England Under-21s against Poland last Thursday. “It’s just good to get out there and play football. I am still young, 18 years of age, so to get minutes was good for me. I lost quite a bit of fitness but it’s coming back slowly.

“That was due to not playing. I have been trying to do extra after training but it’s nothing like playing a game, it’s totally different. Hopefully I can get it back.”

Foden signed a new six-year contract at City in December and Guardiola insists the midfielder will not be going anywhere while he is in charge at the club.

City have rejected a number of loan moves from clubs in England and Europe in the past 18 months, and it is understood that some of Germany’s leading sides are still closely following the midfielder’s progress.

Borussia Dortmund swooped in to sign Jadon Sancho from City in 2017 and have shown interest in Foden, while RB Leipzig are believed to be serious admirers. Both would be keen to take him on loan, at least, if the opportunity were ever to arise.

But Goal understands Foden has no desire to entertain any approaches, even if there is lingering disappointment at his relative lack of minutes so far.

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His hopes of increased first-team involvement could also be aided by the possible departure of Ilkay Gundogan this summer, as the Germany international’s contract expires in 2020 and he has so far rebuffed City’s attempts to agree fresh terms.

Guardiola has previously insisted that Foden has played “incredible” minutes this season and promised that he will play more in the future.

“Of course he can play more minutes but he could play less,” the Catalan said earlier in March. “We cannot forget he is 19 years old [sic] and it’s the first season he’s played incredible minutes in the first team.

“He’s played a lot of minutes and he’ll play more in the future. The process has to be calm. How many young players go immediately to the international team and after that disappear from the map? We want him to stay 10 seasons or 11 or 12 with us, playing regularly, and every season he will be stronger and stronger. He’s an incredible talent but he still has a lot of things to improve. It’s simple for his age. At his age, he needs time to grow.”

There are fewer than 30 18-year-olds to have played top-flight football in Europe’s top five leagues this season, and of those only six have played more than 1000 minutes.

Foden has played 876 minutes so far in 2018-19, including 75 minutes in the Community Shield.

Sancho, who turned 19 on Monday, is top of the list with 2311 minutes played for Dortmund.

The two Premier League stars are the notable names leading this week’s top performers

A busy international break produced a star-studded FIFA 19 Team of the Week as EA Sports unveiled the latest squad headlined by Paul Pogba and Eden Hazard.

Pogba and Hazard join the fray after leading France and Belgium, respectively, to a pair of wins in Euro 2020 qualifying. Pogba’s France battered Iceland and Moldova by a combined 8-1 scoreline while Hazard and Belgium scored three goals over two wins against Russia and Cyprus.

Joining the Premier League duo are a number of other high-rated cards, including Lyon striker Memphis Depay, Barcelona star Jordi Alba and Juventus maestro Miralem Pjanic.

Mexico defender Hector Moreno, Monaco centre-back Kamil Glik, Germany and Hoffenheim’s Nico Schulz and Russian star Denis Cheryshev are also included among the starting XI.

The squad also includes a trio of hero cards from African Cup of Nations qualifying, led by Democratic Republic of the Congo striker.

Joining him are Cedric Amissi as well as Huddersfield Town’s Steve Mounie.

See the full squad below…

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GK – Andriy Pyatov – Shakhtar Donetsk 
LM – Nicolo Barella – Cagliari
LB – Tamas Kadar – Dynamo Kiev
ST – M’Baye Niang – Rennes
ST – Eran Zahavi – Guangzhou R&F
ST – Salomon Rondon – Newcastle
ST – Steve Mounie – Huddersfield Town

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CB – Konstantino Laifis – Standard Liege
CM – Cedric Amissi – Al Taawoun
LM – David Accam – Philadelphia Union
LM – Eljif Elmas – Fenerbahce
CAM – Marco Mancosu – Lecce

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The Polish striker discusses the best centre-backs he has come up against over the course of a prolific career for club and country

Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski has revealed the most challenging defenders he’s ever faced in his career.

The Polish striker has amassed 199 Bundesliga goals from just 283 appearances, scoring against a plethora of opponents.

However, despite his scoring prowess, the frontman has picked out a handful of defenders who he found it difficult to trouble, both domestically and in European competition.

“In the Champions League, Sergio Ramos,” Lewandowski told kicker. 

“He’s a great centre-back, not just defensive, even with the ball.”

“In the Bundesliga, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels, that was always a challenge and not easy to play [against].”

He also revealed his footballing idols, naming two forwards in particular who he admired and sought to emulate as he made his name in professional football.

“Thierry Henry, I liked to study his style of play. I also liked Alessandro del Piero,” he added.

While he perhaps lacks the raw pace of Henry or the technical gifts of Del Piero, Lewandowski has certainly morphed into an elite finisher and has produced some spectacular goalscoring feats, notably hitting five goals in nine minutes as a second-half substitute against Wolfsburg with the team trailing 1-0.

He has finished as the Bundesliga’s top goalscorer three times and won the German league title on six separate occasions. 

At 30, he has a few more years left in him and will hope to add to his collection of silverware this season.

However, his former club Dortmund currently lead his Bayern side by two points as they capitalised on a slow start from the reigning champions to surge ahead, and while Lewandowski and Co. have gone on a fine run to catch up, their 1-1 draw away at Freiburg, coupled with Dortmund’s 2-0 away win over Wolfsburg, sees Bayern trail by two points.

They meet in a crunch tie on April 6 that could go a long way towards deciding the eventual champions, and Lewandowski will certainly hope to get one up over his old team-mates. 

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